CN212445961U - Wind turbine blade mould - Google Patents

Abstract

A wind turbine blade mould comprising a lower mould having a lower structural frame, an upper mould having an upper structural frame and an opening and closing mechanism fitted between the lower and upper structural frames for moving the upper mould between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the opening and closing mechanism comprises: a linear actuator having first and second ends drivable by the linear actuator between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration; a rocker arm having a central portion pivotally mounted to the lower structural frame, a first end of the rocker arm being connected to a second end of the linear actuator; a link arm having a first end pivotally connected to the second end of the rocker arm and a second end pivotally connected to the upper structural frame; the opening and closing mechanism is configured such that when the linear actuator is driven from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration, the upper mold rotates about the hinge axis from the open configuration to the closed configuration. Its advantages are high torque, reliability and high effect.

Description

Wind turbine blade mould

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a wind turbine blade mould including opening and closing mechanism.

Background

Applicant's earlier CN207772205U discloses a wind blade mould comprising a hydraulically driven opening and closing mechanism. The wind power blade mold comprises a lower mold and an upper mold, wherein the lower mold is provided with a lower structural framework assembled to the lower mold, and the upper mold is provided with an upper structural framework assembled to the upper mold. An opening and closing mechanism is fitted between the lower and upper structural frames for moving the upper mould about the hinge axis between an open configuration, in which it is in a transverse position with respect to the lower mould, and a closed configuration, in which it is above the lower mould. The opening and closing mechanism comprises a hydraulic actuator comprising a cylinder and piston assembly fitted between the lower structural frame and a linkage mechanism comprising a plurality of connecting arms fitted to the lower and upper structural frames. Extension of the cylinder and piston assembly causes the linkage mechanism to rotate the upper structural frame relative to the lower structural frame, thereby causing the upper mold to move about the hinge axis from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

The wind blade mold including the opening and closing mechanism disclosed in CN207772205U can effectively function as a rotating upper mold.

However, in the field of manufacturing wind turbine blade molds, there is a need for an improved opening and closing mechanism configured to reliably and quickly move an upper mold between an open configuration and a closed configuration by applying a high torque to the upper mold without encountering undesirable mechanical vibrations or mechanical dead spots during rotation of the upper mold about a hinge axis.

Furthermore, in the field of manufacturing wind turbine blade molds, there is a need for an improved opening and closing mechanism that is capable of effectively applying high torque to smoothly and continuously move the upper mold between the open and closed configurations.

Furthermore, in the field of manufacturing wind turbine blade molds, there is a need for an improved opening and closing mechanism that enables a high mechanical advantage in the linkage mechanism coupling the upper mold to the linear actuator, such that the power output of the linear actuator is optimally converted to a high torque for rotating the upper mold between the open and closed configurations.

There is also a need in the art of manufacturing wind turbine blade molds for an improved opening and closing mechanism that can employ a lower powered actuator that is also associated with lower capital costs, however, applies high torque to the upper mold during rotation of the upper mold about the hinge axis without encountering undesirable mechanical vibrations or mechanical dead spots.

The utility model discloses aim at least partly satisfy above-mentioned one or more demands in the wind turbine blade mould manufacturing field.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

Therefore, the utility model provides a wind turbine blade mould, this wind turbine blade mould includes the bed die, go up the mould and open and the closing mechanism, the bed die has the lower structure frame of assembling to the bed die, it has the last structure frame of assembling to the last mould to go up the mould, open and the assembly of closing mechanism is between lower structure frame and last structure frame, be used for around articulated axis open the structure and close the structure between the removal go up the mould, opening the structure, it is in the lateral position for the bed die to go up the mould, closing the structure, it is located the bed die top to go up the mould, wherein open and the closing mechanism includes:

a linear actuator having opposed first and second ends drivable by the linear actuator between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, wherein the first end of the linear actuator is pivotally mounted to the lower structural frame by an actuator pivot;

a rocker arm, wherein the rocker arm has opposing first and second ends and a central portion therebetween, wherein the central portion is pivotally mounted to the lower structural frame by a rocker pivot, and the first end of the rocker arm is pivotally connected to the second end of the linear actuator by a first pivot connection; and

a link arm, wherein the link arm has a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally connected to the second end of the rocker arm by a second pivotal connection, the second end of the link arm being directly or indirectly pivotally connected to the upper structural frame by a third pivotal connection;

wherein the opening and closing mechanism is configured such that when the linear actuator is driven from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration, the upper mold rotates about the hinge axis in a first rotational direction from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a wind turbine blade mold includes a lower mold having a lower structural frame assembled to the lower mold, an upper mold having an upper structural frame assembled to the upper mold, an opening and closing mechanism assembled between the lower structural frame and the upper structural frame for moving the upper mold about a hinge axis between an open configuration in which the upper mold is in a lateral position relative to the lower mold and a closed configuration in which the upper mold is located above the lower mold, wherein the opening and closing mechanism includes: a linear actuator having opposed first and second ends drivable by the linear actuator between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, wherein the first end of the linear actuator is pivotably mounted to the lower structural frame by an actuator pivot; a rocker arm, wherein the rocker arm has opposing first and second ends and a central portion therebetween, wherein the central portion is pivotally mounted on the lower structural frame by a rocker pivot, and the first end of the rocker arm is pivotally connected to the second end of the linear actuator by a first pivot connection; and a link arm, wherein a first end of the link arm is pivotally connected to the second end of the rocker arm by a second pivotal connection and a second end of the link arm is directly or indirectly pivotally connected to the upper structural frame by a third pivotal connection; wherein the opening and closing mechanism is configured such that when the linear actuator is driven from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration, the upper mold rotates in a first rotational direction about the hinge axis from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the rocker arm, the first distance between the first pivot connection and the rocker pivot is shorter than the second distance between the second pivot connection and the rocker pivot.

The link arm is optionally shorter than the second distance.

Preferably, the rocker arm is configured to pivot about a rocker pivot arm when the upper mould is driven by the actuator from the open configuration to the closed configuration, with a direction of rotation having the same sense of rotation as the first direction of rotation of the upper mould about the hinge axis.

Typically, the hinge axis extends through the interconnection of the lower and upper structural frames.

The lower structural frame preferably includes a lower transverse beam extending transversely from a body of the lower structural frame below the lower die and an upper beam extending upwardly from a free end of the lower transverse beam at a position spaced transversely from the lower die, the hinge axis extending through the upper beam.

Typically, the first end of the linear actuator is pivotally mounted to the lower transverse beam.

Typically, the pivotally mounted rocker pivot of the central portion of the rocker arm is located on the upward beam. Preferably, the upper beam comprises a first transverse arm at an upper end of the upper beam, the first transverse arm extending in a transverse direction away from the lower mould, and the hinge axis extends through the first transverse arm. Preferably, the hinge axis on the first transverse arm is spaced laterally from the rocker pivot in a lateral direction extending away from the lower die, and typically the hinge axis on the first transverse arm is spaced upward from the rocker pivot.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second end of the link arm is pivotally mounted on the upper structural frame by a third pivotal connection.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the link arm is configured to rotate in a direction of rotation having the same sense of rotation as the first direction of rotation of the upper mould about the hinge axis when the upper mould is driven by the actuator from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

Preferably, the third pivotal connection from the link arm to the upper structural frame rotates in the first rotational direction relative to the pivotally mounted rocker pivot and hinge axis of the central portion of the rocker arm as the upper mould is driven by the actuator from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

Preferably, the upper structural frame comprises an upper transverse beam extending transversely from a main body of the upper structural frame, the main body being located above the upper mould when the upper mould is in the closed configuration, and a downward beam extending downwardly from a free end of the upper transverse beam at a position spaced transversely from the upper mould when the upper mould is in the closed configuration, the hinge axis extending through the downward beam.

Typically, the second end of the link arm is pivotally mounted to the down beam by a third pivotal connection.

Preferably, the downward beam comprises a second transverse arm at a lower end of the downward beam when the upper mould is in the closed configuration, the second transverse arm extending in a transverse direction away from the upper mould, and the hinge axis extends through the second transverse arm. Preferably, the hinge axis on the second transverse arm is spaced laterally from the third pivot connection on the downward beam in a lateral direction extending away from the upper mould when the upper mould is in the closed configuration, and typically the hinge axis on the second transverse arm is at substantially the same height as the third pivot connection when the upper mould is in the closed configuration.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rocker arm comprises an intermediate portion between the central portion of the rocker arm and the second end of the rocker arm, and wherein the wind turbine blade mould further comprises a second linear actuator having opposite first and second ends, the first and second ends being drivable by the second linear actuator between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, wherein the first end of the second linear actuator is pivotably mounted to the lower structural frame by a second actuator pivot, the second end of the second linear actuator being pivotably connected to the intermediate portion of the rocker arm by a fourth pivot connection.

Preferably, the opening and closing mechanism is configured such that when the second linear actuator is driven from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, the upper mould is rotated about the hinge axis in a first rotational direction from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the or each linear actuator comprises a hydraulically actuated cylinder and piston assembly. Typically, the cylinder of the cylinder and piston assembly is mounted to the lower structural frame, while the piston of the cylinder and piston assembly is mounted to the rocker arm.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lower mould and the lower structural frame are in a fixed position with respect to the ground.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the open configuration, the upper and lower dies are oriented at an angle of separation of about 180 degrees about a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction of rotation.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wind turbine blade mould comprises a plurality of opening and closing mechanisms arranged in a spaced configuration along the length of the wind turbine blade mould.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening and closing mechanism is configured to move the upper mould between the open configuration and the closed configuration reliably and quickly by applying a high torque to the upper mould, without encountering undesired mechanical vibrations or mechanical dead spots during rotation of the upper mould about the hinge axis. The opening and closing mechanism can efficiently apply high torque to smoothly and continuously move the upper mold between the open configuration and the closed configuration. The opening and closing mechanism may achieve a high mechanical advantage in the linkage coupling the upper mold to the linear actuator, such that the power output of the linear actuator is optimally converted into a high torque for rotating the upper mold between the open and closed configurations. The opening and closing mechanism may employ a lower powered actuator that is also associated with lower capital costs, however, the actuator applies high torque to the upper mold without encountering undesirable mechanical vibrations or mechanical dead spots during rotation of the upper mold about the hinge axis.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a wind turbine blade mold according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wind turbine blade mold being in an open configuration with a movable upper mold positioned laterally at an angle of 180 ° relative to a fixed lower mold;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the wind turbine blade mold of FIG. 1 in a partially open configuration, wherein the upper mold has been moved by an opening and closing mechanism to an upright position at a 90 angle relative to the fixed lower mold; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the wind turbine blade mold of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration with the upper mold directly above the lower mold and having been moved by the opening and closing mechanism to a molding position at a 0 angle relative to the fixed lower mold.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a wind turbine blade mold according to another embodiment of the present invention, the wind turbine blade mold being in an open configuration with a movable upper mold positioned laterally at an angle of 180 relative to a fixed lower mold;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the wind turbine blade mold of FIG. 4 in a partially open configuration, wherein the upper mold has been moved by an opening and closing mechanism to an upright position at a 90 angle relative to the fixed lower mold; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the wind turbine blade mold of FIG. 4 in a closed configuration with the upper mold directly above the lower mold and having been moved by the opening and closing mechanism to a molding position at a 0 angle relative to the fixed lower mold.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, a wind turbine blade mould 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. In the drawings, some components are shown as transparent for clarity of illustration, although in a practical embodiment, the components will be opaque. The wind turbine blade mould 2 comprises a lower mould 4 and an upper mould 8, the lower mould 4 having a lower structural frame 6 fitted to the lower mould 4, the upper mould 8 having an upper structural frame 10 fitted to the upper mould 8.

An opening and closing mechanism 12 is fitted between the lower structural frame 6 and the upper structural frame 10 for moving the upper mould 8 about a hinge axis 14 between an open configuration shown in fig. 1, in which the upper mould 8 is in a transverse position with respect to the lower mould 4, and a closed configuration shown in fig. 3, in which the upper mould 8 is located above the lower mould 4. The lower mould 4 and the lower structural frame 6 are in a fixed position relative to the ground. Typically, the wind turbine blade mold 2 includes a plurality of opening and closing mechanisms 12 arranged in a spaced configuration along the length of the wind turbine blade mold 2.

Fig. 1 shows the wind turbine blade mould 2 in an open configuration, in which the movable upper mould 8 is positioned laterally at an angle of 180 ° relative to the fixed lower mould 4. Fig. 3 shows the wind turbine blade mould 2 in a closed configuration, in which the upper mould 8 is located directly above the lower mould 4 and has been moved by the opening and closing mechanism 12 to a moulding position at an angle of 0 ° relative to the fixed lower mould 4. The wind turbine blade mould 2 is moved in a closing or opening movement between the open configuration shown in fig. 1 and the closed configuration shown in fig. 3, passing through the intermediate partially open configuration shown in fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows the wind turbine blade mould 2 in a partially open configuration, wherein the upper mould 8 has been moved by the opening and closing mechanism 12 to an upright position at an angle of 90 ° relative to the fixed lower mould 4.

The lower structural frame 6 comprises a lower transverse beam 22 and an upper beam 26, the lower transverse beam 22 extending transversely from a main body 24 of the lower structural frame 6, the main body 24 being located below the lower mould 4, the upper beam 26 extending upwardly from a free end 28 of the lower transverse beam 22 at a position spaced transversely from the lower mould 4. The upward beam 26 comprises a first transverse arm 30 at the upper end 25 of the upward beam 26, the first transverse arm 30 extending in a transverse direction away from the lower mould 4.

The upper structural frame 10 includes an upper transverse beam 32 and a lower beam 36, the upper transverse beam 32 extending transversely from a main body 34 of the upper structural frame 10, the main body 34 being located above the upper mould 8 when the upper mould 8 is in the closed configuration, the lower beam 36 extending downwardly from a free end 38 of the upper transverse beam 32 at a position spaced transversely from the upper mould 8 when the upper mould 8 is in the closed configuration. The downward beam 36 comprises a second transverse arm 70 at a lower end 72 of the downward beam 36, the second transverse arm 70 extending in a transverse direction away from the upper mould 8.

The hinge axis 14 extends through the upward beam 26 of the lower structural frame 6 and through the downward beam 36 of the upper structural frame 10, so that the hinge axis 14 extends through the interconnection of the lower and upper structural frames 6, 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge axis 14 extends through the first and second transverse arms 30, 70 of the lower and upper structural frames 6, 10, respectively.

The opening and closing mechanism 12 includes a linear actuator 16. The linear actuator 16 includes a cylinder and piston assembly, typically a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly, although other linear actuators 16 may alternatively be employed, such as an electrical actuator including a lead screw driven by an electric motor.

The linear actuator 16 has opposite first and second ends 18, 20, the first and second ends 18, 20 being drivable by the linear actuator 16 between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. The opening and closing mechanism 12 is configured such that when the linear actuator 16 is driven from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration, the upper mould 8 rotates in a first rotational direction about the hinge axis 14 from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

The first end 18 of the linear actuator 16 is pivotably mounted to the lower structural frame 6, for example to the lower transverse beam 22, by an actuator pivot 40.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the rocker arm 42 has opposite first and second ends 44, 46 and a central portion 48 therebetween. The central portion 48 is pivotally mounted to the lower structural frame 6, for example to the upward beam 26, by means of a rocker pivot 50.

The hinge axis 14 on the first transverse arm 30 is spaced laterally from the rocker pivot 50 on the upward beam 26 in a transverse direction extending away from the lower die 4. The hinge axis on the first transverse arm 30 is spaced upwardly from the rocker pivot 50.

The first end 44 of the rocker arm 42 is pivotally connected to the second end 20 of the linear actuator 16 by a first pivot connection 52. A first end 56 of the link arm 54 is pivotally connected to the second end 46 of the rocker arm 42 by a second pivotal connection 58. The second end 60 of the link arm 54 is directly or indirectly pivotally connected to the upper structural frame 10 by a third pivotal connection 62. For example, the second end 60 of the link arm 54 can be pivotally mounted to the downward beam 36 of the upper structural frame 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the second end 60 of the link arm 54 is pivotally connected directly to the upper structural frame 10 by a third pivotal connection 62.

The hinge axis 14 on the second transverse arm 70 is spaced laterally from the third pivot connection 62 on the downward beam 36 in a transverse direction extending away from the upper mould 8 when the upper mould 8 is in the closed configuration. The hinge axis 14 on the second transverse arm 70 is at substantially the same height as the third pivotal connection 62 when the upper mould tool 8 is in the closed configuration.

However, in alternative embodiments, the second end 60 of the link arm 54 may be indirectly pivotally connected to the upper structural frame 10, for example by an intermediate static or movable arm fitted between the link arm 54 and the upper structural frame 10.

In the rocker arm 42, the first distance d1 between the first pivot connection 52 at the first end 44 of the rocker arm 42 and the pivotally mounted rocker pivot 50 of the central portion 48 of the rocker arm 42 is shorter than the second distance d2 between the second pivot connection 58 at the second end 46 of the rocker arm 42 and the pivotally mounted rocker pivot 50 of the central portion 48 of the rocker arm 42. Typically, the link arm 54 is shorter than the second distance d 2.

The rocker 42 is configured to pivot about a rocker pivot 50 in a rotation direction having the same sense of rotation as the first rotation direction of the upper mould 8 about the hinge axis 14, at the pivoting mounting of the central portion 48 of the rocker 42, when the upper mould 8 is driven by the linear actuator 16 from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

The link arm 54 is configured to rotate in a direction of rotation having the same sense of rotation as the first direction of rotation of the upper mould 8 about the hinge axis 14 when the upper mould 8 is driven by the linear actuator 16 from the open configuration to the closed configuration. When the upper mould 8 is driven by the linear actuator 16 from the open configuration to the closed configuration, the third pivotal connection 62 from the link arm 54 to the upper structural frame 10 rotates in the first rotational direction relative to the rocker pivot 50 at the pivotal mounting of the central portion 48 of the rocker arm 44 and relative to the hinge axis 14.

As shown in fig. 1, in the open configuration, the upper die 8 is laterally adjacent the lower die 4, and the upper die 8 and the lower die 4 are oriented at an angle of separation of about 180 degrees about a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. The linear actuator 16 is in an extended configuration. To move the upper mould tool 8 to the closed configuration shown in figure 3, the linear actuator 16 is retracted. The second end 20 of the linear actuator 16 moves downward, which rotates the rocker arm 42 about the rocker pivot 50 in a first rotational direction (the first rotational direction being counterclockwise in fig. 1-3) such that the second end 46 of the rocker arm 42 is raised. As described below, when the upper mould 8 is driven by the linear actuator 16 from the open configuration to the closed configuration, the first direction of rotation has the same sense of rotation as the first direction of rotation of the upper mould 8 about the hinge axis 14.

The movement of the rocker arm 42 causes the link arm 54 to both rotate in the first rotational direction and to rise relative to the lower mould 4, which in turn causes the upper mould 8 to rise to the intermediate partially open 90 ° position shown in figure 2. The rocker arm 42 and the link arm 54 are dimensioned to be pivotably fitted to the lower die 4 and the upper die 8, respectively, such that the link arm 54 rotates about both the second pivot connection 58 and the third pivot connection 62, such that the upper die 8 is raised by the retracting action of the linear actuator 16, and there is a high mechanical advantage in the opening and closing mechanism 12. Further retraction of the linear actuator 16 causes the upper mould 8 to rotate from the intermediate partially open 90 deg. position shown in figure 2 to the fully closed 0 deg. position shown in figure 3 by continued rotation of both the rocker arm 42 and the link arm 54 in the first rotational direction.

The ends of these elements may abut to act as a stop mechanism when the downward beam 36 is vertically aligned with the upward beam 26, although the stop mechanism may additionally or alternatively be located elsewhere in the mold 2 or in the opening and closing mechanism 12.

After moulding the wind turbine blade in the mould 2, the mould 2 may be opened using the reverse movement of the linear actuator 16 from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration.

Referring to fig. 4 to 6, a wind turbine blade mould 102 according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown. Like parts are indicated with like reference numerals compared to the first embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 3.

Compared to the first embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 3, the wind turbine blade mould 102 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is modified to further comprise a second linear actuator 116 in the opening and closing mechanism 112. Also, typically, the wind turbine blade mold 102 includes a plurality of opening and closing mechanisms 112 arranged in a spaced configuration along the length of the wind turbine blade mold 102.

The second linear actuator 116 also typically includes a second cylinder and piston assembly, which may be hydraulically actuated. The second linear actuator 116 has opposing first and second ends 118, 120, the first and second ends 118, 120 being drivable by the second linear actuator 116 between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. The first end 118 of the second linear actuator 116 is pivotally mounted to the lower structural frame 6 by a second actuator pivot 140, and the second end 120 of the second linear actuator 116 is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion 144 of the rocker arm 42 between the central portion 48 of the rocker arm 42 and the second end 46 of the rocker arm 42 by a fourth pivot connection 142. First end 118 may include a cylinder of a cylinder and piston assembly and second end 120 may include a piston of a cylinder and piston assembly.

In the second embodiment, the opening and closing mechanism 112 is configured such that when the second linear actuator 116 is driven from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, while the linear actuator 16 is driven from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration, the upper mould 8 rotates about the hinge axis 14 in a first rotational direction from the open configuration of fig. 1 via the intermediate partially open configuration of fig. 2 to the closed configuration of fig. 3.

In the second embodiment, two linear actuators 16, 116 are used simultaneously and complementarily to open and close the mold 2. The operation of the rocker arm 42 and the link arm 54 is the same in the first and second embodiments. By providing the second linear actuator 116 in the second embodiment, the single power of the two linear actuators 16, 116 function may be reduced compared to the single linear actuator 16 in the first embodiment, which may reduce capital costs and increase the reliability and durability of the opening and closing mechanism 112.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening and closing mechanism is configured to move the upper mould between the open configuration and the closed configuration reliably and quickly by applying a high torque to the upper mould, without encountering undesired mechanical vibrations or mechanical dead spots during rotation of the upper mould about the hinge axis. The opening and closing mechanism can efficiently apply high torque to smoothly and continuously move the upper mold between the open configuration and the closed configuration. The opening and closing mechanism may achieve a high mechanical advantage in the linkage coupling the upper mold to the linear actuator, such that the power output of the linear actuator is optimally converted into a high torque for rotating the upper mold between the open and closed configurations. The opening and closing mechanism may employ a lower powered actuator that is also associated with lower capital costs, however, the actuator applies high torque to the upper mold without encountering undesirable mechanical vibrations or mechanical dead spots during rotation of the upper mold about the hinge axis.

Various changes, modifications and optimizations to the illustrated embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of manufacturing wind turbine blades and are within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (26)

1. A wind turbine blade mould, characterised in that the wind turbine blade mould comprises a lower mould having a lower structural frame fitted to the lower mould, an upper mould having an upper structural frame fitted to the upper mould, and an opening and closing mechanism fitted between the lower structural frame and the upper structural frame for moving the upper mould about a hinge axis between an open configuration in which the upper mould is in a transverse position relative to the lower mould and a closed configuration in which the upper mould is located above the lower mould, wherein the opening and closing mechanism comprises:

a linear actuator having opposed first and second ends drivable by the linear actuator between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, wherein the first end of the linear actuator is pivotally mounted to the lower structural frame by an actuator pivot;

a rocker arm, wherein the rocker arm has opposing first and second ends and a central portion therebetween, wherein the central portion is pivotally mounted on the lower structural frame by a rocker pivot, and the first end of the rocker arm is pivotally connected to the second end of the linear actuator by a first pivot connection; and

a link arm, wherein a first end of the link arm is pivotably connected to the second end of the rocker arm by a second pivot connection and a second end of the link arm is pivotably connected, directly or indirectly, to the upper structural frame by a third pivot connection;

wherein the opening and closing mechanism is configured such that when the linear actuator is driven from the extended configuration to the retracted configuration, the upper mold rotates in a first rotational direction about the hinge axis from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

2. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 1, wherein in the rocker arm a first distance between the first pivot connection and the rocker pivot is shorter than a second distance between the second pivot connection and the rocker pivot.

3. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 2, wherein the link arm is shorter than the second distance.

4. The wind turbine blade mold according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rocker arm is configured to pivot about a rocker pivot arm in a rotational direction having the same rotational sense as the first rotational direction of the upper mold about the hinge axis when the upper mold is driven by the actuator from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

5. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 1, wherein the hinge axis extends through an interconnecting portion of the lower and upper structural frames.

6. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 1, wherein the lower structural frame comprises a lower transverse beam extending transversely from a body of the lower structural frame below the lower mold and an upward beam extending upwardly from a free end of the lower transverse beam at a location spaced transversely from the lower mold, the hinge axis extending through the upward beam.

7. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 6, wherein the first end of the linear actuator is pivotably mounted to the lower transverse beam.

8. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 7, wherein a pivotally mounted rocker pivot of the central portion of the rocker arm is located on the upward beam.

9. The wind turbine blade mould according to any of claims 6-8, wherein the upward beam comprises a first transverse arm at an upper end of the upward beam, the first transverse arm extending in a transverse direction away from the lower mould, and the hinge axis extends through the first transverse arm.

10. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 9, wherein the hinge axis on the first transverse arm is laterally spaced from the rocker pivot in a lateral direction extending away from the lower mold.

11. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 10, wherein the hinge axis on the first transverse arm is spaced upwardly from the rocker pivot.

12. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 1, wherein the second end of the link arm is pivotably mounted on the upper structural frame by the third pivot connection.

13. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 1, wherein the link arm is configured to rotate in a rotational direction having the same rotational sense as the first rotational direction of the upper mold about the hinge axis when the upper mold is driven by the actuator from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

14. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 1, wherein the third pivotal connection from the link arm to the upper structural frame rotates in a first rotational direction relative to the pivotally mounted rocker pivot and the hinge axis of the central portion of the rocker arm when the upper mold is driven by the actuator from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

15. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 1, wherein the upper structural frame comprises an upper transverse beam and a downward beam, the upper transverse beam extending transversely from a body of the upper structural frame, the body being located above the upper mold when the upper mold is in the closed configuration; the downward beam extends downwardly from a free end of the upper transverse beam at a location laterally spaced from the upper mold when the upper mold is in the closed configuration, the hinge axis extending through the downward beam.

16. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 15, wherein the second end of the link arm is pivotally mounted to the down beam by the third pivotal connection.

17. The wind turbine blade mould of claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the downward beam comprises a second transverse arm located at a lower end of the downward beam when the upper mould is in the closed configuration, the second transverse arm extending in a transverse direction away from the upper mould, and the hinge axis extends through the second transverse arm.

18. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 17, wherein the hinge axis on the second transverse arm is laterally spaced from the third pivot connection on the downward beam in a lateral direction extending away from the upper mold when the upper mold is in the closed configuration.

19. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 18, wherein the hinge axis on the second transverse arm is at substantially the same height as the third pivot connection when the upper mold is in the closed configuration.

20. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 1, wherein the rocker arm comprises a middle portion between the central portion of the rocker arm and the second end of the rocker arm, and wherein the wind turbine blade mold further comprises a second linear actuator having opposing first and second ends drivable by the second linear actuator between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, wherein the first end of the second linear actuator is pivotally mounted to the lower structural frame by a second actuator pivot, the second end of the second linear actuator being pivotally connected to the middle portion of the rocker arm by a fourth pivot connection.

21. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 20, wherein the opening and closing mechanism is configured such that when the second linear actuator is driven from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, the upper mold rotates about the hinge axis in the first rotational direction from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

22. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 1, wherein the linear actuator comprises a hydraulically actuated cylinder and piston assembly.

23. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 22, wherein the cylinder of the cylinder and piston assembly is fitted to the lower structural frame and the piston of the cylinder and piston assembly is fitted to the rocker arm.

24. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 1, wherein the lower mold and the lower structural frame are in a fixed position relative to the ground.

25. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 1, wherein in the open configuration, the upper mold and the lower mold are oriented at an angle of separation of about 180 degrees about a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

26. The wind turbine blade mold of claim 1, wherein the wind turbine blade mold comprises a plurality of opening and closing mechanisms arranged in a spaced configuration along a length of the wind turbine blade mold.

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